Martin wins; Hernandez, Robertson in council runoff

Dismal turnout in Lubbock's northern neighborhoods led to a close battle that will send two City Council candidates to a runoff battle.

District 1 challengers Victor Hernandez and Glen Robertson will face each other again in June.

In the mayor's race, incumbent Tom Martin won in a landslide.

Hernandez, an attorney and former councilman, collected the most votes but couldn't push past the 50 percent mark he needed to capture the seat. He will face Robertson, a businessman, in a June 12 runoff.

Low turnout helped keep Robertson and Hernandez in a close contest for most of the evening. Hernandez had just a 26-vote lead.

"I knew we were close," Robertson said. "I didn't realize how close."

Hernandez landed 47.5 percent of the vote to Robertson's 45.5 percent. Rafael Gutierrez II netted a distant third with less than 7 percent of the vote.

Robertson said he would spread his same message, calling for a stronger negotiator representing District 1, with more door-to-door campaigning for the runoff.

"More of the same, but with a lot larger group of people," Robertson said.

Hernandez was trying to re-take a council seat he left after 11 years in 2004 to run unsuccessfully for municipal judge.

Councilwoman Linda DeLeon defeated him in his attempt to take back the seat in 2006.

He expected supporters for both sides would be fired up for the runoff but anticipated even lower voter turnout in June.

He said he had a good track record, though.

"I've been in a runoff before, and I won that one by 28 votes," Hernandez said.

Mayor Tom Martin easily defended his post from three challengers. Cody Smart, a graduating masters of business administration student at Tech who campaigned for more city focus on homeless and a change in debt policy, offered him the most competition.

"Twenty-two percent so far is nothing to scoff at," Smart said. "I hope he recognizes, I hope the people in city government recognize that people do care about the issues that I brought up."

Voters were satisfied with the numerous city projects underway around Lubbock and an improved atmosphere at the council, Martin said.

He said he saw no need to change anything, based on the returns.

"Of course, in the political arena, you're never going to have 100 percent of the people happy with anything," Martin said. "The vast majority are, so we'll stay the course and continue on the path we're doing now."

Karen Gibson, a small-business owner, won the Southwest Lubbock District 5 seat councilman John Leonard chose not to keep.

Leonard made an unsuccessful run for Lubbock County Commissioner in the March Republican primaries.

Lampman did not return calls for comment Saturday evening - the candidate had said earlier in the week he planned to be bowling as returns came in.

Gibson was ready to work on finishing bond projects voters approved in November and looking for ways to increase the number of officers in place at the Lubbock Police Department.

"I'm just ready to go," Gibson said.

Historic electric deals, rising water rates and big debt loads lurk in the near future for the newly elected officials. But the campaigns to put them in charge of those issues there never generated much heat.

Candidates in the three city contests did not amass major war chests or launch high-profile campaigns. District 1 saw some sparring between Robertson and Hernandez as Hernandez alleged Robertson was recruited to run for office.

The only public confrontation in the mayor's race came at a sparsely attended public forum in South Lubbock a few days before early voting began.

Voters posted the lowest early voting turnout for May elections stretching back to 2006. Last year's election to approve the sale of alcohol throughout the county drew four times the number of voters.

"I think when people are pleased with the results that you have a lower number of people voting," Martin said. "When people are upset with city government, you tend to have a higher turnout."